Major Proctorasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a shopkeeper closing his business after 23rd October, 1941, does not require a licence to restart on the same lines as previously, nor does a trader who closed down between 1st December, 1940, and the said date in October, whereas a trader who closed down between 3rd September, 1939, and 1st December, 1940, must apply for a licence to resume; and whether, when the last named closures are due to war circumstances he will place them on the same footing as the other two?
§ Mr. DaltonThe basic period, 1st December, 1940, to 23rd October, 1941, was fixed after very careful consideration. I have received no request from any representative body of traders for the change proposed by my hon. and Gallant Friend, and I should not feel justified in the circumstances in making it.